Life is difficult....

In one of the chapel sermons at OBU I made some notes inmy Bible for Phillipians 1:18-30. I wrote, "Life is difficult...so what? Jesus is Lord...I will rejoice!" Rejoicing is not what comes to mind in the midst of trouble but we are reminded by James to, " ...Consider it pure joy when we face trials of many kinds." The last year of my life has had many trials and I am still being taught. I do not always welcome trials...in fact I often try to avoid them.
Just as I avoid trials, painful things, so do many of my patients. We, as healthcare professionals are constantly reminding patients to cough, deep breathe, turn, and get up and walk around after their surgeries. We know if they dont, they will not heal. For example, I had a patient who was capable of feeding himself, walking, and doing other tasks but he refused to do them. I reminded him that I wanted to take care of him but if I did everything for him he would be no better off because he would get infections from not coughing and weak from not using his hands. He still avoided these things because they were painful...and out of fear. But I knew if he avoided them he would be worse than before healthcare intervention.
Just as coughing and walking can be painful after surgery, so can many things in my life. But if I do not "exercise" my faith I will be no better off than that patient in bed unable to do simple tasks for himself. God allows these things in my life to make me stronger and without them I will become helpless against the world and the many temptations that wait for me daily.
Most importantly, I have to remember I am not alone. Just as this man had people willing to help....just not to do everything for him. Jesus will be with me, but I have to take the first step toward him on my own. It is my choice to follow.